Silly boy!

My mother in law emailed me these photos of Kevin from our trip. He had seen all the other kids wearing goggles and he decided he needed to try on Sarahs. So silly!

Paradise

It is tradition that we go to Paradise Island and visit Atlantis. This year we took a taxi over the bridge to Paradise Island and the water taxi back to Nassau. In the past we have only taken the water taxi so it was really neat to see the area near the bridge.

I was really thinking Kevin would love to see the fish in the aquarium, to me they are so beautiful. Instead most of his attention was captured by all the stairs. He could have spent hours climbing up and down the stairs if we would have let him. We did strap him in his stroller for a little while to direct his attention to the aquarium. And we did try to get a quick family photo before he was off and running.

On the way back to the condo we did stop in town to see if anything had changed since last year. Nothing had. :-)

For my brother-in-laws family it is tradition to go out on Thursday night and to remember their father who first introduced them to the Bahamas and who meant so much to them. For years they had been going to a small restaurant Buena Vista but sadly 3 years ago the restaurant closed. This year we tried a new restaurant Montagu Gardens.

The restaurant was very lovely! It was an older house that had been converted to a restaurant and is set in this beautiful Italian style garden. We weren't able to see the entire garden because it was being used for a wedding. But what we could see was very nice. And the food was really good too. Steve had a nice seafood medley and I enjoyed a yummy chicken breast breaded with coconuts.

For the remainder of the trip we just hung out by the pool or swimming in the ocean. Since the pool at our condos was out of commision for a while Harvey got us passes to the Wyndam hotel just down the beach. They have a huge pool and a great water slide. Kevin LOVED the slide. It was neat to see Kevin's confidence grow each day. After borrowing Phillips arm floaties he felt more comfortable in the water, so Steve bought him a pair. When he was wearing them in the pool he felt comfortable enough to let go of us, he even began kicking and would "swim" between Steve and I.

It was a great relaxing and fun vacation.

Kevin loved running around.



"Swimming" by himself.


Steve and Kevin coming down the water slide.


Trying to get Kevin to float. He would just barely get his ears underwater and would giggle uncontrollably. It was really cute.


Getting comfortable in the water.


Steve and Kevin on the patio listening to the wedding reception. You can see Emma in the background dancing.


Vivian with Phillip and Daniel.





A stingray.


Kevin looking at the fish.




Waiting for the water taxi.

The sun, the sand, and the sea.

We had a great trip to Nassau this year. For Steve and I this was our 6th year going, and Kevin's second year. Steve's brother in law, Eric, and his mom and sisters have been going for MANY years. As time has gone on and each family has grown more people have come.

This year Vivian, Monica and Rudy, and their four kids (Josh, Ben, Sarah, and Emma), Amy and her husband Gene, Kim and her two boys (Daniel and Phillip), Barbara and Harvey, Steve, Kevin and I went. It really was small group for us this year. Amongst us there are 3 condos and we always stay at Guanahani village.

We left on Saturday the 13th and came back on the 20th.

Since this was Kevin's second trip, I was really hoping he would take the flying a bit better. In order to prepare I did purchase a CARES flight harness. It is the only harness that is approved by the FAA and was the only secure way we could keep Kevin in his seat.

For our first flight to Dallas Kevin wasn't that bad, we did our best to keep him entertained with a bag of toys. At DFW he loved the moving sidewalks, to help get some of his energy out I let him run up and down them. Unfortunately he didn't get any time to wind down before getting on the plane. And he let everyone know he was unhappy. He did take a quick 30 minute nap, but the rest of the time he was kicking, screaming and crying. My heart broke for him. I knew what he wanted to just get down and run and just couldn't let him.

Once we got to Nassau he was a happy child again. We pretty much dropped everything off, did a little unpacking and then hit the pool. He loved it! Last year he enjoyed staying in his floaty, but not this year.

He was pretty funny because he kept asking to get down, but I was holding him so he wouldn't go under the water. He just didn't understand that he couldn't get down.

Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday were pretty low key days, all we did was play in the ocean or the pool. We did get a lot of ocean time this year because the pool was closed for two days because of an algae bloom and they were repainting. But the ocean was very calm and very warm this year. Kevin liked bobbing up and down in the water and would occasionally play in the sand. But what he really liked was trying to run down the beach or climb up the rocks next to the beach.

When we weren't swimming he did have fun playing with the other kids. The condos have stairs and Kevin constantly wanted to go up and down them. So Sarah and I formed a team and would block Kevin from going up the stairs. He really enjoyed all the attention he got from Sarah. He also really enjoyed playing with his cousins Daniel and Phillip.

Here are some of the photos we took. We did find a new starfish just about everyday and the kids loved touching them. I didn't know they were so colorful!
Steve chasing Kevin down the beach.



Kevin really wanted to climb the rocks, but they used to be retention walls so there is rebar sticking up in areas and the salt and water has caused them to rust, so we didn't want Kevin playing on them at all.


Steve and Kevin walking towards the pool.


Kevin touching his first starfish. This was a small one that has shades of brown, green and burnt orange. The kids called it the longhorn starfish.


Steve and Kevin walking in the ocean.

And we are back!

For the last week we have been on our family vacation to the Bahamas. Last night we made it home. We had a blast! Over the next few days I will try and update the blog with our adventures. For now I will leave you with a few fun photos.

A family photo at the Atlantis Aquarium.


Our sweet little boy!


Kevin after eating a Popsicle.


Kevin on the plane, notice his legs. He hated being strapped in and was constantly kicking. It made a long 3 hour flight and unfortunately the entire plane heard him complaining.

I am officially Momma!

For 18 months and 13 days I have been looking forward to hearing Kevin say "Momma". Yes, I have been counting! In the past he would say "Mama" it but it meant Banana. Then he began saying "ummy" which we thought was Mommy. But it really meant "yummy". On some random days he would say "Ommy" but the next day he wouldn't say it. And I was never sure what it really meant.

Well this Sunday he began saying Momma, and it sounded like he meant me. I figured on Monday he wouldn't say it again. But he did say it again. Usually when going down for a nap or to bed. Well today he continued calling me Momma, so I think I can officially say he is calling me!

I am so excited. He has said "Daddy" for over a month now so I was hoping my name wasn't far behind.

To date here are the words Kevin says: OK, Banana (Nana), Blueberry, Thank you, Night Night, Bye Bye, Up, Down, Kitty, Ball, Ball (this one means balloon), eye, bath, Yea!, car, NO, Peas (meaning Please), cup, uk (means book), More? More!, Bailey (the cat), baby, cookie.

For sounds he likes to Meow, say Woof Woof, Cock a (doodle doo, we have to add that part), Baa like a sheep and Roar like a Lion. Sometimes he will Moo like a cow.

I know there are more, but that is all I can think of right now.

Kevin's first pool party!

Today we went to a friend Ashleigh's house to celebrate her 2nd birthday. Her parents got a wonderful waterslide and had two little pools set up for the kids. Everyone was anywhere from 1-3 years old and had a blast!

Kevin really liked it when they put a little slide into kid pool. He did want to go down the big slide, but when we got to the top he got really scared and refused to go down. The other neat thing about the party is that I was able to try out my new camera. It is waterproof. So I was able to get wet and play with Kevin and not worry about my camera getting wet.

Here are a few pictures from the party.

I'm not ready for this!

Kevin figured out how to climb out of his crib! This morning Steve and I heard Kevin chatting and occasionally doing a little cry/holler. We left him in there so we could get some stuff done when suddenly we heard the "I'm hurt" cry. Next thing we knew we heard him running down the hall. We were shocked, he got out of his crib! Fortunately he wasn't hurt, just pretty scared.

We have no idea how he got out. I think he either got his foot out the side slab and used the recliner to get out, or he just climbed up the front.

I am really hoping he won't be able to do it again. Just in case I did move the recliner so he can't use it to boost himself out. I'm not ready for him to be a in a big boy bed yet!

A new form of potty training?!?

I think he was excited to find his own indoor mini pool. Just another reason why I have child proof locks on the toilet and toilet paper. Now I just have to remember to use them. (Sorry the picture is bad quality, it was taken with my camera phone.)